The City of Marquette Planning Commission is pleased to provide an amended Community Master Plan draft document for public review. The draft may be viewed in person in City Hall, in the Peter White Public Library, in Northern Michigan University's Lydia Olsen Library and at the Marquette Downtown Development Authority offices. The draft is also available online here.

A state board has signed off on a plan for local governments in Marquette and Delta counties, including the City of Marquette, to join forces to provide business incentives in a coordinated way.

The Michigan Strategic Fund board gave its blessing to the creation of the Superior Trade Zone, which becomes the state's sixth Next Michigan Development Corporation (NMDC). NMDCs are regionally based economic development entities provided for under state law.

The City of Marquette has successfully obtained assistance for the implementation of a "Lighter Quicker Cheaper" placemaking project along the Third Street Corridor.

The “Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper” approach is based on taking incremental steps, using low-cost experiments, and tapping into local talents (e.g. citizens, entrepreneurs, developers, artists, university, and city staff). These smaller-scale projects are being implemented in a variety of environments, including on streets, squares, and even parking lots, and range from art on street benches to construction of "parklets" to facilitate outdoor dining.

A public meeting to discuss the project will be held at 9 a.m. March 30 in the Marquette Commons.

The City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center ass announced its May exhibition: The 39th LSAA Annual Members’ Show. This show is a collection of mixed medias by members of the Lake Superior Art Association.

The SmallWorks Gallery will also feature a display by Lake Superior Youth Theatre. This exhibit will include costumes from favorite musicals, props and photos.

The shows will be running from May 5 to 29 and there will be a closing artist reception in conjunction with the 19th Annual Art Awards held on Friday, May 15, from 6 to 7 p.m.

An upcoming quilt display will commemorate Marquette's 2014 selection as a finalist for the title of All-America City. The quilt, which includes squares commemorating each of the 23 finalists for the National Civic League's award, will be on display in Marquette from April 6 through April 11. The quilt will be on display in Alley Kat's Quilt Shop, located at 623 W. Washington St., and at the Peter White Public Library, located at 217 N. Front St.

City offices located at Marquette City Hall, 300 W. Baraga Avenue; the Lakeview Arena, 401 E. Fair Avenue; the Arts and Culture Center, 217 N. Front St. (in the Peter White Public Library); and the Municipal Service Center, 850 W. Baraga Avenue, will be closed on Friday, April 3, in observance of Good Friday. Marquette Police, Fire, and Public Works and Utilities will remain fully operational during this time.

The Marquette Senior Center will be hosting AARP Tax Assistance Clinics on Tuesdays and Fridays through April 7. If you need to file State and Federal Income Taxes, or have questions about the Homestead Property Tax Credit and/or the Home Heating Credit, AARP volunteers will be available by appointment at the Marquette Senior Center.
Please call 228-0456 to schedule an appointment.

The City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center invites the community to attend the 19th Annual Art Awards, where outstanding individuals in our community will be honored. The awards will be held in the MACC, in the lower level of the Peter White Public Library at 217 N. Front St. on Friday, May 15, 2015. For more information click here.

The City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center presents Thorburn-Morelock-Crane on Thursday, May 7 at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend this free concert held in the Community Room of the Peter White Public Library, at 217 N. Front St. in Marquette. For more information, click here.

Downtown Spring Open Twisted Tea Off

The second annual Downtown Spring Open Twisted Tea Off, an indoor miniature golf
tournament, will be held on Saturday, April 25, from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. in Marquette's
Downtown District. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Janzen House, a non-profit
organization that offers transitional housing for male residents of Marquette County.
Teams of four will compete for cash and prizes as they travel from hole to hole
throughout Marquette's Downtown District.

The Marquette City Clerk's Office is accepting nominations for the City elective offices which will be filled this year. There will be two vacancies on the Marquette City Commission, and two vacancies on the Marquette Board of Light and Power. Packets containing nominating petition forms, the required certificates and information sheets are available in the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 300 W. Baraga Ave., Marquette.
The deadline for filing nominating petitions is 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21.

The City of Marquette requires all boaters to obtain a launch permit to launch a boat at either Cinder Pond or Presque Isle Marinas.

Seasonal launch permits are available for purchase at the Lakeview Arena Parks & Recreation office, located at 401 E. Fair Ave. and at the City of Marquette Treasurer’s office located at 300 W. Baraga Ave. Seasonal launch permits will also be available at Cinder Pond Marina and Presque Isle Marina offices beginning May 1. The cost is $50 per seasonal launch permit, and $12 for an additional launch permit (restrictions apply).

Daily launch permits are $5 and are available in the red launch boxes located at Cinder Pond and Presque Isle Marinas.

Planning Commission Special Meeting Cancelled

The special meeting on Tuesday, March 10 at 6 p.m., has been cancelled due to lack of quorum. The next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, March 17 at 6 p.m., in the Commission Chambers of City Hall, located at 300 W. Baraga Avenue.